Flickr photo by mollydot creative commons
Hey friends. I'm writing you from my daddy's office in my parents' house, which is a little freaky because as I type, fifth grade Becky (complete with stop sign glasses and crocheted bicentennial vest) is staring at me. I shall not be wigged out. I shall not be deterred.
So where were we...
Sam and I are taking a mother son get-away for the weekend to celebrate the end of the school year and to soak up the kind of heavy duty loving that only grandparents can give!
We had a great drive home to Raleigh yesterday. Sam set up his IPod to play all sorts of old people (Elton John, Billy Joel, and Michael Jackson) plus a young favorite of both of ours, Ingrid Michaelson. You probably know Ingrid. She's a fabulous entertainer (watch this after you finish reading this post) and I'm still spanking my own hiney because she came this spring to The Handlebar, our local place for live music, and I couldn't get my act together to simply buy the tickets and show up! I tell you, I drive myself crazy sometimes.
So anyway, you may know the song she's most famous for. It's this one.
Sam and I sang it straight through twice in the car. LOUDLY. (Actually I sang loudly and he joined in every now and then, when nobody was in the lane beside us.) After it was over, Sam asked if we could pretty please listen to a different song.
"Just one more time. Okay?" I begged, and he rolled his eyes and laughed. Then he patted me on the head and pushed play.
I couldn't help it. I just love those lyrics:
If you are chilly, here take my sweater.
Your head is aching, I'll make it better.
Cause I love the way you call me baby.
And you take me the way I am.
Isn't that the best kind of love, a love that takes us the way we are, with all our quirks and weirdness? Ingrid loves whoever it is back, because really, how could she not?
Whenever I hear a song that touches me or read a novel that stuns me with its beauty and truth, I know I need to take a closer look. I have this idea that when a story or a song or a movie pulls on my heartstrings, that means that it's resonating with something ancient and holy within me. It's almost like our souls are embedded homing devices, set up to detect the qualities of God's nature and passion in our world (His truth and beauty, pain and sacrifice,) and draw us back to their ultimate source: a God who loves us relentlessly.
Does this make sense to you, or do you think I've been staring into the sun too long?
So when she sings
I'd buy you Rogaine when you start losing all your hair
Sew on patches to all you tear
I hear it and I sometimes think of a child wanting to return the favor to a God who patches us up, time and time again.
You know what I mean. The Bible (and probably your life too) is full of those stories. I think of God calling out Adam and an Eve, right after they'd disobeyed Him with the fruit and were hiding in the bushes, wondering what to do next. God had said that if they ate of that tree, they'd die the same day. But would they indeed have to die? No, this God couldn't bring Himself to follow through, killing off all humankind. Instead God loved them, even in their shame. And not only that, but before God ushered them out of the garden, He sewed them clothes to wear, to comfort those frightened, naked jaybirds.
He sewed on patches, even though they tore the whole thing up.
If that's not superhuman love, (or superior-to-human love :) I'd like to know what is!
Have a terrific weekend, friends! I hope it's full of loud, happy singing.
But before you go, I'd love to hear what has moved you lately.
And do you think my theory holds? Does the art that touches your heart have anything to do with God?
Love, Becky
14 comments:
Hi Becky,
You and Sam have a great weekend.
There is a song that makes me teary on a daily basis (in a good way).
It is called Shine by The Newsboys.
I try to shine, i hope I shine....
xoxo,
Barb
You have NOT been staring at the sun for too long! I love that song.
What a great song and the video is so sweet and tender. I had to quit reading Guidepost Magazine on my break at work, because it always made me cry. Now that I'm at home, I read your column and am touched. I think that's a good thing. I love The Way your writing is these days. Thanks.
You make perfect sense! I only remember a line or two of that song -- the sweater part -- but, obviously, I've heard it somewhere (even though I don't listen to much radio or new music). Thanks so much for sharing it! It's lovely!
I love it on a personal level (I think of my husband and me; last night he had a headache and, much as I would have preferred not to, I said yes to his request to leave off working and do childcare so he could sleep -- to "make it better"). And, like you, I think of our gracious God who always, ALWAYS takes us the way we are.
Each of your blog posts could be a mini-sermon, they are so well thought-out and laid-out. (And my parishioners would have been happier with sermons *this* length than with mine that were 12-15 minutes long most Sundays!)
Have a great weekend!
Heidi
Thanks Barb, I'll look that song up. I know you shine, my friend!
Hey Amy, good!
Susan, that mag touches me too. I'm glad you like the changes. I'm LOVING writing these posts. I should have done it sooner.
Heidi, I can't imagine writing a 15 minute sermon every single week. My sis in law is a Methodist minister and I don't know how she does it, with all the other responsibilities of ministry. I enjoy jotting my bits and pieces. Thank you!
Love, love, love Ingrid.
And I love how you put that, something ancient and holy.
Awww this is so lovely Rebecca from the time away with Sam, to the singing in the car (I am so guilty of mortifying my daughters with that too, but I can't help myself), to the sweet truth of how utterly and thoroughly and drenched in forgiveness our Lord loves us. And how sad is it that I forget.
And that Ingrid song part about the Rogaine, I remember first hearing that and looking at my hubby and saying somehow that the line was so sweet and it reminded me of the "Bridget Jones" line where Mark Darcy bowls over Bridget by saying "I like you just the way you are", which also called to mind for me one of the first books (beside the Bible) that made an impression on me as a young believer: Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard. Where the world had convinced "Much Afraid" that she was undeserving of love and where the Christ character finally shows her it is now how lovable she makes herself but understanding she IS loved and knowing better the God that loves her. Thanks a bunch Rebecca, have a great weekend with Sam.
So beautifully said. Sometimes when I read an especially moving or elegantly written passage whether in a book, poem or blog post, I get goosebumps.
Ok, I know that probably sounds weird, huh :-)
Hey Alison!
Jenny, I must look for that book by Hurnard. I've not heard of it. And do you know that I've never seen Bridget Jones. We're going to try joining Netflix again and I'll put it on my list.
SVDiva, that does not sound weird to me AT ALL. I get goosebumps all the time. :)
beautiful post! i totally understand what you're saying about art, music, writing, connecting to something ancient and mystical.
your writing is wonderful! thanks for bisiting my blog--i look forward to visiting you again!
Thank you for this introduction, Becky. I am not familiar with her, but those lyrics sound so lovely.
I feel God around me through music, the written word and even nature. Oddly, I get teary eyed and thank him even when I see great architecture.
I hope that you and Sam had a great weekend together. Be blessed this week! :)
Hi revhipchick, thanks for swinging by. One of the best things about blogging is discovering new friends!
Angie, we had a wonderful time. We even went to the mall in which I spent my junior high, eating donuts and watching boys.
I understand what you mean about great architecture. Ancient cathedrals and even primitive churches get to me too.
I'm liking your new blog style.
This is one of my very favorite songs, I have made Ken completely sick of it! Ha! And I'm very glad someone shares my appreciation.
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